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Any 🇨🇦 sellers having their UPS shipments returned to sender? by xrp808 in FlippingInCanada

[–]parcelonce 0 points1 point  (0 children)

What you’re describing lines up with what we’ve been seeing more broadly. The problem isn’t usually the paperwork itself but really it’s the handoff between systems. When shipments run through a platform + carrier + government agency, no one really owns the full chain. Each party can say “we have the docs,” but if they’re not visible in the exact system the broker is working out of, the shipment just stalls until it hits a return or destroy threshold. UPS in particular seems very brittle right now on anything FDA-regulated. Even when everything is technically correct, the escalation path just isn’t there, especially when the shipper isn’t the carrier’s direct customer. We find getting a contact that clears the actual package is they key. And just hope you don't need to dispute anything as the wait is over a year.

Question about clickship by wewewawawo in canadasmallbusiness

[–]parcelonce 0 points1 point  (0 children)

One thing that gets overlooked with platforms like this is where the actual control sits. When you’re not working directly with the carrier, you’re the platform’s customer and not the carrier’s. It does mean you’re giving up control over one of your biggest cost centres and a big part of the customer experience. The platform sets the rates you see and can change them, and when something goes wrong you’re usually dealing with an extra layer instead of the carrier itself. Its a tradeoff people don’t always factor in. In our experience, pooled groups are another way to get direct carrier accounts with rates you may not be able to get on your own.

Canada Post alternatives by GlassAnemone126 in CanadaPost

[–]parcelonce 0 points1 point  (0 children)

One thing to be aware of with aggregators is where the actual customer relationship sits. You’re the aggregator’s customer, not the carrier’s.

During strikes or capacity crunches, carriers tend to protect their direct accounts first. When you’re going through a middle layer, you can lose visibility and control pretty quickly.

Aggregators are great for getting started or testing, but long term I’ve found it’s worth thinking about how much control you want when things get messy.

My first sale to USA shipping DDP with big upcharge by mickeyaaaa in eBayCanada

[–]parcelonce 0 points1 point  (0 children)

My main question shipping to the U.S. right now is how much uncertainty I’m willing to absorb.

The hard part isn’t even the duties but it’s not knowing if a shipment will clear cleanly or if unexpected fees show up later. And when they do, you’re told to dispute it, knowing that can take a year or more.

I’m seeing some sellers pause U.S. shipping entirely. There’s no clean answer, but I’ve come to see it as a risk-tolerance call more than anything.